Lauren Von is a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist, a proud mother of five children, and the CEO and founder of Quintessa Marketing and the Give Fifty Pledge. Quintessa serves as a match-making service for auto accident victims and personal injury attorneys. The company’s proprietary technology, intake process, and top-notch digital marketing are just part of what makes the company different. A trailblazer, she channels 50% of annual profits towards impactful causes like Infant Crisis Services, ReMerge of Oklahoma County, Branch15, and more. Attributing her success to generosity, Lauren launched the Give Fifty Pledge to redefine corporate responsibility, encouraging businesses to contribute 50% of profits for a year, one month, or even an hour, fostering transformative philanthropy.
Since its inception, Quintessa Marketing has become a multimillion-dollar company. Lauren and the company have earned prestigious accolades, including a Bronze Stevie Award® for Best Entrepreneur, Gold Titan Women in Business Award for Female Entrepreneur of the Year, and DotCom Magazine’s Impact Company of the Year, a testament to their excellence and impact. Lauren’s entrepreneurial journey, without a college degree, is an inspiration, impacting the business landscape and the community she serves. She lives in Edmond, Oklahoma, with her husband Leo and their family.
Company: Quintessa Marketing
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company
Lauren Von: My journey in the legal industry began when I worked as an executive assistant for a personal injury advertising agency. The company did TV commercials and SEO. They asked me if I could work the SEO part with profit share as my compensation. I accepted, and our client book and profits were quickly improved. I then learned more about the intake process. My hard work eventually propelled me to the firm’s COO position. I soon found my career in a catch-22. My COO title made me overqualified for a marketing position at another law firm, and I couldn’t get a job elsewhere as COO because I didn’t have a college degree. I took matters into my own hands, founding Quintessa Marketing in 2016 upon returning to Oklahoma.
Quintessa is a match-making service for auto accident victims and personal injury attorneys. Our proprietary technology, intake process, and top-notch digital marketing are just part of what makes us different. We don’t just generate leads for personal injury attorneys; we serve as an extension of their operations by vetting the leads thoroughly to match them to the proper attorney. We have re-invented lead generation marketing. Instead of simply passing leads to attorneys, we recreated the funnel by adding retainers to the bottom. Our model delivers signed retainers to law firms, optimizing the opportunity for our attorney partners and injury victims.
Amid a global pandemic, I made a defining decision for the company’s mission. I pledged to donate 50% of my company’s profits to charity in 2020. Shortly after, I received a $300,000 order, the highest to date. This decision propelled Quintessa into a multimillion-dollar business. I’ve also launched the Give Fifty Pledge, urging other small to medium-sized companies to donate 50% of their profits for a day, week, or even an hour. This pledge is about redefining the concepts of charity, generosity, and philanthropy and revolutionizing corporate social responsibility (CSR) by initiating a paradigm shift in corporate giving.
I live in Edmond, Oklahoma, with my husband Leo and our five children.
Can you share a time when your business faced a significant challenge? How did you navigate through it?
Lauren Von: During the 2020 pandemic, I chose to donate 50% of our profits to charity, even though many of my colleagues were closing their businesses. This turned out to be a defining moment. Shortly after, I received a $300,000 order, the largest we had ever received. This decision demonstrated our commitment to social causes and launched my company into a multimillion-dollar business. As a result, I initiated the Give Fifty Pledge (https://givefifty.org/), urging other companies to pledge to donate 50% of their profits for a day, a week, or even an hour. This initiative is part of a legacy of generosity, transforming profits into a meaningful purpose and spreading kindness and positivity.
How has a failure or apparent failure set you up for later success?
Lauren Von: When I launched my business, my ex-employer filed a lawsuit against me. He relied on me to support his business, and my departure put him in a tough spot. Initially, I found it challenging to cope with the situation. Still, I hired competent lawyers who helped me understand that lawsuits are sometimes inevitable in running a disruptive business. I keep a Lucite nameplate given to me by my ex-boss, along with a note that said, “You won’t last longer than a year.” Despite the negative message, it still reminds me of the transformative power of resilience, inspiring me to push through even in the face of adversity.
How do you build a resilient team? What qualities do you look for in your team members?
Lauren Von: We hire according to our values acronym, PRAISE. We look for people who have Purpose, are Resilient, can be held Accountable, have Integrity, are Success-driven, and demand and exemplify Excellence.
How do you maintain your personal resilience during tough times?
Lauren Von: I keep my “why” in front of me. There is a season for everything, and not everything is always sunshine. But I can push through when reminded of my higher calling of helping others. I also have to get out of my surroundings and take a monthly break to decompress and reenergize for the next month.
What strategies do you use to manage stress and maintain focus during a crisis?
Lauren Von: At least once a month, we go to our lake house or somewhere else that removes me from my environment, decompresses, and relaxes me. This will allow me to take a break and prepare for the next month.
How do you communicate with your team during a crisis?
Lauren Von: When a crisis happens, we all immediately meet to Identify the problem, discuss it, and create a solution. We do this in a closed-door meeting, and all phones are down, so we eliminate all distractions. Once we have come up with a solution, we send cascading messages to our other team members and create a safe space for them to know we have it handled.
What advice would you give to other CEOs on building resilience in their organizations?
Lauren Von: You can’t be a reactor; you must be present and address the situation head-on. You must present confidence and be a problem-solver even when you might not feel that way.
How do you prepare your business for potential future crises?
Lauren Von: Part of our annual planning meeting involves our C-Suite team examining the potential for future problems and planning how to handle them. This proactive approach to crisis preparation ensures that we are always one step ahead, ready to face any challenge that may come our way.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned about leadership in times of crisis?
Lauren Von: Never let them see you sweat! Keep your cool in front of your executive team and employees. Displaying anxious or uncertain behavior with your team can result in ripple effects that are hard to undo. Maintain a relaxed and calm demeanor while demonstrating urgency that inspires action. This reassures your team and instills confidence in your leadership. If you need to share your concerns, turn to someone outside your organization, like your spouse or a trusted friend.
